The winter season is in full force as cold weather and snow have engulfed southern Indiana. A new trend among the IU Southeast campus community, however, is providing some students with a way to beat the cold in style.

“Ugly” winter sweaters with an IU theme have arrived in the IU Southeast bookstore just in time for the depths of winter.

Champion clothing company asked the bookstore if they were interested in purchasing and designing a creative holiday sweater for IU Southeast. There were at least thirty unique designs to choose from.

Julie Faulds, bookstore manager, and Katelyn Rodgers, nursing senior, who works in the bookstore, helped with deciding on a design.

“I’m a big Indiana University fan and own a lot of IU apparel,” Rodgers said. “I chose the least busy design and one that could be used all season, not just the holidays.”

Rodgers said the sweater she chose features a snowman design instead of the Santa design that was available.

Faulds said the idea for a school themed ugly sweater originated at Indiana State University and spread quickly throughout the state of Indiana.

Kyle Kramer, informatics sophomore, works in the bookstore and says that over half the stock of sweaters has already sold.